Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: When I Returned Home, There Was a Female Knight. (1)
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Back at the family home—meaning the Nineheart Barony—I was greeted by an unexpected sight.
The estate where I'd spent my childhood, the courtyard where Father had taught me the sword... everything was just as I remembered. Even Father and Mother looked much the same, aside from a few more lines of age on their faces.
So there was no doubt this was my home... but why on earth was Evi here amid it all? She was dressed in training clothes, gripping a wooden sword.
'Could she be some long-lost sibling? One of those secret birth secrets you hear about?'
No way Father, Mother's devoted husband, would have strayed with another woman. But without thinking something like that, I couldn't make sense of the situation at all.
Evi's family home was in the southern frontier, wasn't it? There was no reason for her to be here in the north.
Unaware of my bewilderment—or perhaps fully aware—Father simply bowed his head with a calm expression.
"It's been a while, Your Ladyship."
"...Yes, it has."
Elena, lost in her own thoughts, finally returned Father's greeting. Her face still showed clear confusion.
"I don't know what brings Your Ladyship to our humble abode, but if you're not pressed for time, please come inside."
"Yes, of course."
Elena stepped forward following Father's lead, and I naturally trailed after her.
We soon arrived at the parlor in one wing of the estate. The furniture was worn and far from luxurious, but it held special meaning for me as the place where Elena and I had shared our first tea.
Was it the same for her? Her slender fingers slowly traced the scars on the table.
Mother soon brought tea, and conversation began between Father and Elena.
"Your Ladyship, may I ask what brings you to such a modest place?"
"Luke serves as my exclusive attendant, but before that, he's your son. I thought it might be nice to visit occasionally and check on your well-being."
"So you came all this way solely for Luke..."
"I was also curious about how Father's old friend is doing, so it's not entirely for him."
With that, Elena delicately sipped her tea.
She was probably saying it to ease their concerns. If she admitted it was purely for me, it would make Father, Mother, and even me uncomfortable.
It was amusing to judge one's master as a servant, but no denying it—Elena was a good one, through and through.
The small talk continued for a bit before Elena suddenly spoke up.
"I'd like to speak with Miss Evi for a moment. Could you call her here?"
"Of course."
Father rose immediately and soon returned with Evi in tow. She wore a composed expression, as if she'd anticipated this.
Father then excused himself from the parlor, leaving just three of us: Elena, Evi, and me.
Elena gestured to the chair opposite her.
"Miss Evi, please have a seat."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
Evi's demeanor, which had softened a bit from our gardening club days, seemed rigid once more.
Outside the academy, she was just the daughter of an earldom, and Elena the daughter of a ducal house—it was only natural.
Still, it irked me somehow. I wished they'd stay friends.
"I'll get straight to the point. Why are you here...?"
Elena asked the moment Evi sat down.
I was dying to know myself, so I perked up my ears, focusing on her answer.
After a moment of silence, Evi spoke.
"To learn the sword."
"The sword...?"
"Yes. I've heard Baron Nineheart is an excellent knight who distinguished himself on the northern frontline. I thought training under him might improve my lacking skills even a little."
"Even so, people don't just show up out of the blue like that...?"
Elena asked, utterly baffled. Her face might as well have been a giant question mark.
I felt the same. Father had indeed shone on the northern frontline, but showing up on that alone was reckless.
What if he refused to teach her? It'd be a total waste of time.
"Truth be told, I didn't want to go back to my family home."
"Was there some problem...?"
"Well... it's a bit childish, but..."
Evi trailed off hesitantly before slowly opening up.
To sum it up: She didn't want to see her parents, who'd tried to make her brother—Walter Douglas—give up the sword for their own gain.
In short, a petty act of rebellion.
"But don't worry too much. I've told my parents my intentions, and even if trouble arises, Brother said he'd handle it somehow."
"I wasn't exactly worried... No, I mean, it's good you've prepared for it."
"Thank you for understanding."
Evi bowed her head deeply from her seat.
Elena narrowed her eyes in astonishment at the sight.
"That doesn't suit you."
"Doesn't it?"
"No, you look better growling like a little puppy."
"Wh-who're you calling a little puppy?! If anyone's the puppy, it's you, Your Ladyship—fidgeting like crazy whenever it involves Luke!"
"Wh-when did I ever do that?! And as for little puppy, well, your body says it all!"
Elena's gaze fixed on a certain part of Evi.
Evi couldn't miss it, her face flushing as her eyes widened.
"It's not that small!"
"I get you want to claim that, but people need some conscience..."
"That flab is just a nuisance when swinging a sword!"
Evi protested, but her lips were pursed out a good three inches. She was grasping at straws for a mental victory, and it wasn't landing.
'Elena's are big, sure, but Evi's aren't that small...'
Glancing back and forth between their chests, I sighed inwardly and turned to look out the window. On second thought, it was a pointless battle.
What did size matter anyway? Not like they were on my body.
Luckily, their bickering ended there. Both flushed, they'd belatedly remembered I was in the room.
After a brief silence, Evi glanced my way.
"Luke, I have a favor to ask..."
"What is it?"
"W-we were using casual speech just now, right...?"
"Outside the academy, you're not a fellow student—you're the lady of the Douglas Earldom. Your Ladyship might overlook it, but I have to use formal speech."
"I see..."
Disappointment filled Evi's voice. Formal speech didn't erase our friendship, but it created distance all the same.
What could I do? I didn't want to hear any grief for slipping into casual talk.
Some lines had to be toed firmly.
"So, what favor did you have in mind?"
"Spar with me."
"That's no trouble at all, but..."
"No, not with me. With Baron Nineheart."
As someone aspiring to knighthood, I had no reason to refuse a spar. There was always something to learn from crossing swords with anyone.
Sparring with Father was different, though. As the man who'd first taught me the blade, I couldn't help but tense up.
Not that I planned to refuse.
Before answering Evi, I looked to Elena. All my actions needed her approval.
Did she catch on? She sighed and slowly nodded.
The meaning was clear, so I turned back to Evi.
"Understood. It's been ten years since I last crossed swords with Father, but I'll give it my all."
"Thanks for agreeing. I figured watching skilled fighters spar might teach me something."
"Save your thanks for Your Ladyship, who permitted it."
Evi immediately thanked Elena without hesitation. Her pride meant nothing next to her earnest desire to learn the sword.
Her dedication was admirable, and a smile tugged at my lips.
I faced Father soon after.
Thanks to Evi's request—and his ready agreement.
Maybe he was curious to see how much I'd grown.
"Can't believe it's been ten years since we stood like this. When did that bratty kid grow up so much...?"
"It's nostalgic for me too."
"I'll go all out, of course. It's better for both of us."
"Please do."
"Right, then. Let's see how far you've come."
Father and I raised our wooden swords in unison, assuming our stances.
The air around us exploded outward as the spar began in earnest.